by Blink, Bob
When he was finished, Nycoh slowly opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled. “I understand how they work,” she said. “It’s easy.”
Rigo smiled in return. It had worked as Daim claimed. Now there were two who understood the towers, which took a lot of pressure off him. Should something happen to him in the coming weeks, the knowledge required to repair and activate them wouldn’t be lost. The books would provide details that might be required for especially tricky problems. “Thank you,” he said. “Now I have to worry less. You and Jeen can spend some time together. She will demonstrate how the Bypass works. I’m going with Burke to do the same for him and two others.”
“It’s that easy?” Burke asked after Rigo had each of the three create arches to places they knew, followed by transfers to places using memories of one another.
“That’s all that is required. It is really a simple spell. The only risk is the edge of the arch, which newcomers tend to forget about.
“Is it okay if we start using the ability right away?” Kela asked.
“Of course. What did you have planned?” Rigo asked.
“We have been lax on following up on new wizards who have been located. We would like to go after them now if that is consistent with your plans. It won’t take days or weeks now. We can jump essentially directly to the villages where they are.”
“That’s fine. We need to gather a number of additional gifted people. We fall short of what will be required to activate the barrier. I would ask that one of you be present tomorrow. I want to make a visit to each of the towers and it would be good to have at least one of you who is capable with the traveling spell to become familiar with the location of each. The need to visit the towers frequently is likely in the coming weeks.”
After they agreed who would go with Rigo the following day, Rigo went in search of Jeen and Ash’urn. He found them with Nycoh. They had apparently made a visit to Ash’urn’s home village where he had recovered several books he had acquired over the years and stored there.
“I’m going after Kaler and Daria,” Rigo told Jeen. “We should all meet back at our base in a couple more glass. Bring Ash’urn with you,” he asked.
Jeen nodded her understanding. Rigo hadn’t seen her looking so happy in a long time. She was among those who had the kind of power she did, had saved a life and was now making friends with a very young wizard girl. She appeared very content.
The next day after dropping Kaler and Daria back in Sulen, Rigo returned to the Outpost with Jeen and Ash’urn. Kela was waiting for his return. She had been chosen to go along with him today because she had the best memory for places and people. Neither of the other two had returned as yet. Rigo tasked Jeen to pick up their friends in Sulen later in the day. Then he went in search of Nadav. Kela had indicated the Elder had requested that he come along on the survey of the towers. Once they were all together, Rigo opened the doorway to the northernmost of the towers.
“It looks different than the tower I visited some years ago,” Nadav said when they stepped onto the rocky hillside overlooking the beginnings of the hot and sandy Ruins a couple of hundred paces from the tower.
“It is one of the two unique towers,” Rigo explained. “The towers at either end of the chain are the most important. They are set into untainted land and draw the power for the entire system from the earth. Once the system is operational, power is passed along the link to the other towers. The Ruins have corrupted the interface, so the towers located there cannot draw the power needed directly.”
As they walked toward the massive structure Rigo saw a small cluster of the shiny flowers which he immediately burned to ash, instructing the others to do so with any they encountered. “Not only will it help eradicate them once and for all, but as a wizard you don’t want to come in any contact with them. Weakened as they are, they still can have effects and there could be some that are more virulent than others.”
It took more than a quarter glass for Rigo to establish the base tower was sound. This was a task that he alone, well Nycoh was supposedly capable now, could perform. Each tower would have to be examined, and some repaired. Then they would be ready for the later linkage when they had sufficient trained people. Once he was satisfied he placed his hands against the warm tower metal and brought the massive structure back to life. Even the others could sense the power growing within the core.
“It will start to charge the storage crystal now,” Rigo explained. “Nothing more can be expected until the other towers are activated and linked together.”
Satisfied, he took them to the end tower far to the south. There he repeated the process, finding the tower in similar shape, and activating it so it too could charge. He marveled at Juda’s skill and the changes she had wrought that allowed the towers to resist the flowers and centuries of potential degradation. Rigo was startled to realize he was starting to accept some of Daim’s memories as his own. He had never known Juda, but Daim had held her in very high regard.
It took another ten hours to complete a stop at every tower. Rigo examined each, but didn’t attempt to activate any of the remaining units. That could wait until later. Three were clearly in need of repairs, and a couple of others were suspicious. Still, the situation was better than he could have hoped.
Several times they encountered some of the flowers near the towers. In one location he was pleased to note a large crop appeared to have withered and died on their own. They appeared to be losing their battle in this world as the Seer had predicted. Rigo was pleased, but burned them to ash regardless. Only twice did they encounter any of the Hoplani. Near one tower they found a small herd of fifty of the creatures, who noted their arrival and came running. It was a simple matter for Rigo to blast them into a smoking mass with a single intense burst of Brightfire. The smaller group they found later in the day were handled by Kela, who was pleased by her increased ability. Rigo was certain she would have a story to tell once they returned home.
By the time the threesome returned to the Outpost, Jeen had already left with Ash’urn. Burke was back with a new recruit, who had already met with Jeen. Burke informed him that while he was away he had learned that Lopal was well inside Branid, and that a major battle was being predicted. He didn’t know where beyond a general idea it would be along a section of mountainous land a couple of day’s ride from the river in central Branid, but his source had been certain it would be soon. When asked if Februus knew of this, Burke explained that the Elder had said it wasn’t their concern and had cautioned Burke against telling Rigo. It appeared he still had issues to resolve with the Elder. Telling Burke he would return in the morning, Rigo bid them farewell, and then returned to the inn where thankfully a meal in the room was waiting.
Chapter 74
Rigo left for the coast by himself while the others were still getting prepared for the day’s activities. He had made arrangements with Inge to check by the small building in the garden of her aunt’s house each day at a specific time for his return. This was to provide a way of locating them should they elect to move elsewhere, although in the two days he had been away no one else would have been able to make the trip to the coast. He stepped out of Sulen into the garden to find Inge sitting hopefully on the small bench under one of the shade trees. She didn’t see him at first which gave him a moment to study her. She looked better, with more color in her face, much of the old confidence apparently back. She was dressed more like she’d been when he had encountered her on the deck of the ship and, to his eyes, was every bit as beautiful.
“Rigo!” she said suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. “I was afraid you weren’t coming back.”
“I told you it would be a couple of days,” he replied, wondering why he was apologizing. “Events are moving far too quickly.”
Inge had stood and was walking over to where he waited. “It all seemed so unreal, and when you didn’t come back …”
“How’s your father?” Rigo asked to shift the focus of their discussion. There wa
s little to be gained by the direction it was headed.
“He’s much improved. He can even get up and move around the house now. My aunt doesn’t allow him outside, just in case anyone might be watching. I don’t go out much myself.”
It was impossible that anyone could have come this far from Sulen so soon to be already watching, even if Cordale had thought to investigate Inge’s family here on the coast. Then he realized if someone remembered seeing either of them when asked in a week or so, that might be a problem.
“Your aunt is probably right,” he said. “I should have arranged to meet you inside.”
Taking his arm, Inge smiled. “Come, let’s go. You can meet my father. Perhaps you can explain to him what has happened. He has little memory of events other than being taken to the dungeon, then waking up here. He’s asked what happened and I told him he was abused and that magic was used to cure him and bring him here, but he won’t hear of it. He doesn’t believe Cordale would have followed through on his threats, which makes it hard to keep him indoors and out of sight. He is already talking of returning to Sulen.”
“I guess I’ll have to convince him,” Rigo said. “Perhaps there is somewhere else we can take him that would be more difficult to find? We should do that today as I’d like to take you with me. Are you still willing to act as a contact for Queen Usaya?”
“Of course. If you can get us inside of where they are holding her, I can introduce you. Is it safe for you? It’s probably unlikely that I would be noticed, at least at first, but you would stand out.”
“I won’t be seen,” he assured her, “at least not until I’m ready.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because of this,” Rigo said, and applied the spell he’d first learned from Ash’urn to make himself disappear.
Inge gasped.
Reappearing, Rigo said, “You will talk to the Queen seemingly alone and explain briefly what has happened and that I would appreciate an audience. It might be awkward if I were to step into her chambers with you at first. She could be alarmed until you have a chance to explain to her what we want. When she appears ready to accept my request, then I’ll remove the spell as I just did.”
“But you will really be there all along?”
“Yes. It will give me a chance to observe and form an opinion of her before I speak with her myself.”
“You will have a bit of task to explain your ability to her. Just as you will with my father.”
“I know. But it is important that I succeed. Much will depend on revealing the existence of magic, and having the nobility behind it will be necessary. For now, let’s see what we can do with your father.”
Inge led the way into a sitting room where her father, Lord Sooz, rested in a large chair. He had a cane propped up against the chair and was staring deep into the flames of a fire across the room. He still appeared thin, but he was clearly well and getting stronger.
“Father, I would like you to meet Rigo. He’s the one I have been telling you about.”
The dark brown eyes that reflected the keen mind behind them turned from the fire and examined him. “This is the one who claims to be a wizard or some such?” he asked.
Before Inge could object, he continued by addressing Rigo. “My daughter has been telling me I was beaten nearly to death and that you and a couple of your friends reached into the dungeon, performed some kind of miracle healing, and then somehow in a matter of moments rather than days, brought me here to be looked after.”
“That is somewhat dramatic, but in essence correct,” Rigo acknowledged.
“I pride myself on my reasonableness and the use of facts to guide my business decisions. Magic has never existed, and I can’t see what you have to gain by telling my daughter these things. I admit I can’t recall what happened, how my leg became damaged like it is, nor how I came to be here, but I am certain that magic had little to do with it.”
“Most would agree with you, but they would also be wrong. Magic has existed for thousands of years, but for the past couple of millennia it has been all but lost as a result of something that happened in the past. It is now making its re-emergence, and by sheer chance I am one of those born with the talent.” Rigo didn’t think it would help his case to try and explain the presence of Daim in his mind.
“Nonsense!” the man exclaimed.
“Show him Rigo,” Inge urged.
Rigo vanished, just as he had in the other room for Inge a bit earlier. Her father paled at his abrupt disappearance, and after a few moments Rigo released the spell and once more stood before them.
“Some kind of a trick,” her father said.
Rigo then looked at the fireplace with the bright blaze burning across the room. With the briefest of thoughts he quenched the fire and removed all the heat from the embers. Her father had seen where he was looking and had watched as the fire blinked out.
“You can check the hearth, sir,” Rigo said. “You will find it quite cool.”
Inge’s father walked slowly over and extended his hands above the darkened wood in the fire pit. When he couldn’t detect any heat, he cautiously lowered his hands until they were touching one of the logs. “Remarkable,” he said.
“I don’t know how you did that, but I’m not ready to concede that magic had any place in it,” he said.
“Father!” Inge objected, but he held up his hand to silence her, wanting to hear what Rigo would say.
This was more difficult than Rigo had expected. People had been raised to doubt the existence of magic, and despite what their eyes were showing them, they didn’t want to change a lifetime’s belief. He couldn’t see knocking things around or releasing bolts of energy here at the house. He would have to fall back on something the man could not explain any other way.
“Is there someplace special to you?” Rigo asked. “Preferably far from here and not in Sulen. If we were to go there you might doubt that you had ever been here.”
“I have a private place near a lake about two days ride from here,” Inge’s father replied. “What of it?”
“I think I know how to convince you. It would be best if we went into the main room. This room is a little small for what I have in mind.”
Once they had moved into the front room, Rigo asked Inge’s father to visualize the area around the house and that he would need to contact his hand for a moment. Doubtfully Inge’s father held out his hand, and once the image was firm in his own mind, Rigo created the Bypass.
“Great Risos!” Inge’s father exclaimed upon seeing the arch.
“Come Father,” Inge said smugly. “Now you will see.” Moving quickly she stepped into the arch ahead of the two men and disappeared.
“Where did she go?” her father asked immediately concerned.
“Come,” urged Rigo, “I’ll show you.”
Hesitant, but somewhat reassured by the confidence with which his daughter had gone forward, he allowed Rigo to lead him through the strange apparition. Moments later they stood beside a modest lake nestled into a small valley with tall mountains on either side. A sturdy little cabin stood well back from the water, and Rigo could see that farther down the shore other structures were visible as well.
“I never knew of this place,” Inge said looking around. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a private place your mother and I used to get away from everyone. No one else knew of it. I haven’t been here in several years.” Her father was looking at the lake and finally walked down and stuck his hand in the water. “How could you know of it, and bring us here so quickly?”
“I used the vision in your mind to locate it, and a form of magic to transport us,” Rigo explained.
Rigo followed as Inge’s father hurried up to the house and unlocked the door using the same key that worked at the house near the sea, then stepped unbelieving inside. He stepped into a side room and soon reappeared. This is really my place. There are things here that no one could have known about. This magic you speak of is
really real?”
Rigo smiled and nodded. He had been forming an idea. “It might be wise if you could stay here for a while. Inge, perhaps if your father and your aunt could relocate here until matters settled down, it would be safer. We could transport supplies, and …”
“I can get everything needed from my friends down the lake,” Lord Sooz interrupted him. “They watch over the place while I’m gone. They don’t know who I am, other than someone with a little money. But why should I hide?”
Rigo and Inge once again explained what had happened in Sulen, and the concern that King Cordale might seek out relatives even though it would be unreasonable to expect he could have made such a journey.”
“What about Inge?” her father asked.
“She is going to introduce me to Queen Usaya. Then it might be best if she were here as well.”
After a bit, Rigo opened the way back to the house on the coast. He left Inge’s father to make arrangements to relocate, promising to return with Inge in the evening to move everyone more permanently to the cabin. Then he and Inge jumped to the inn where his friends were waiting.
“What kept you?” Kaler asked when Rigo and Inge appeared in their rooms at the Prancing Pony.
“Something came up with Inge’s father. Everything is fine, but I had not considered how difficult it is to make others believe in magic.”
Rigo had spent all of his life trying to hide his ability with the power, while Daim, still lurking in the background, had spent all of his life where everyone knew such powers existed. In a world that had been conditioned to disbelieve such abilities could exist, more convincing than Rigo had expected was obviously going to be required.
